Dawn came quickly than I expected. To be frank, I wasn't able to sleep through most of the night knowing what awaited me once the skies lighted up. I had spent my night time pacing around the room while practicing facial expressions in the mirror between trying not to awake Kate .
"Could you calm down and be confident? Hera whined interrupting my thousandth practiced smile, with all your anxiousness I wasn't able to get sleep! She snapped and my smile broke.
"I am nervous, I do not want to nmeet the pack! I told her the exact eleven words I had been repeating ever since Lyeus informed me about it, They definitely will not like me.
"How the heck are you going to be luna ifyou keep acting like this? She huffed and I knew she had a point. A very huge point. No one would respect me if I didn't even have the courage to face them.
"You do not need to worry, Aiden and spyro have got our backs, She added trying to ease me. That's not the point, I replied, what if i get booed or the pack rejects me?
"They wouldn't dare, She sighed, Just relax and try to calm your nerves, everything will go just fine.
I nodded at her final words and walked straight to the bed, wringing my fingers while ignoring the tiny stream of sunlight that strained into the room through the small space between the curtains, I climbed into bed and tucked myself in with the hope of getting some rest.
"You look gorgeous dear." Helena gushed jolting me out of my sleepy state. Apparently, staying up all night feeling anxious wasn't a good idea and deceiving myself that I could get some rest before they came to get me was the worse deceit ever. I winced as a sharp pain flashed through my head, migraines from lack of sleep. I opened my eyes feeling a tug at the hem of the gown on me and I looked down to see Kate smiling at me which equally caused me to smile back.
"Do I look pretty mummy?" She asked twirling round in her dark ball gown which had sparkles all over it giving it a glimmering touch, "Tell me! Tell me!"
"You are pretty as always." I smiled at her pinching her cheek.
"This is so adorable." I heard a click which grabbed my attention and I looked back to see Willow smiling at us with her phone in her hand, "Aiden would cream all over himself seeing you in that gown!"
"Willow!" Helena hit her as I gasped at her blunt Words. A blush reddened my cheeks as I turned away from them.
"Don't mind her dear." She winked her me leaving Willow's side to mine, "Look in the mirror and see how stunning you look. I turned around obeying her words and my mouth fell open staring at mny reflection. They had both managed to get my hair and make up done perfectly despite my dozing off most of the time. My blonde hair was let down my shoulders this time instead of the usual bun. My locs were sleeked backwards in a messy style with my edges laid back. My face was covered in light make up with red lipstick to finish. A black gown ardorned my body. It was strapless and it went downwards sticking to my curves accentuating the right places before flowing at my legs. It had a slit but not too high, it went from my lower thigh and down. I smiled at my reflection and for the first time, I felt beautiful, I looked beautiful.
"So..." Willow said walking towards me, "Do you like it?"
"You are pretty too." Kate hugged my legs giving me a toothy grin.
"I love it." I turned back to stare at the me giving myself another look over before letting out a nervous breath, It's soon, I whispered to myself.
"We have to go." Helena said fixing her dress. She had on a lengthy white gown while Willow had on a gown as red as her hair, they both looked amazing as always, " Aiden just mind linked me, the pack has assembled. "
My breath hitched in my throat on hearing her words all traces of tiredness escaped me and the former feeling of anxiety kicked back in.
"You will be fine." Helena took my hand squeezing it as she understood what I was experiencing at the moment,
"I was once there and they will love you, just keep your head high and do not let their looks or remarks affect you."
"And we are here for you as always." Willow chipped in giving me a small hug.
"Here." Helena took a black clothing from the bed, I wore it when I was being introduced to the pack, it's tradition as the future queen to wear this." She put it on me strapping it on my collar bone area,
"You look elegant." She smiled and I admired the Cape. It was black, lengthy and studded with jewels. I felt like a queen already.
"It's time to go." She said and I nodded. Soon enough we were out of the room and I was led to a different part of the castle where I was informed that I would meet Aiden , it was the throne room. They both left me at the huge doors and went to where the pack was gathered. I let out a breath as the doors opened and I walked in. The room was huge and magnificent with various artworks and sculptures beautifying it, huge chandeliers hung from the ceilings and they were lighted giving the room a pristine glow.
"It looks enchanting." I admired the room with wide eyes.
"Well, you seem to be the only enchanting thing here." My head snapped up at the voice and I looked forward to see steps which ascended to where two huge thrones were but one bigger than the other. And on those steps was Aiden in his full regalty descending towards me with a slight smirk on his face. His hair was neatly tousled and he was dressed in black like me, his short cape was studded with jewels just like the one I wore. His scabbard was thrown around his waist. I watched him in sheer admiration as he got lower and lower, he looked more like the domineering Alpha King and not the Aiden who loved berries.
"Are you going to stare at me all day long without saying anything?" He was closer to me now and his eyes raked me over, "You are alluring in that dress, He said, Even more without it.
I flushed at his words and he stepped closer to me pulling me in a hug, "Are you ready?"
"Yea." I whispered fidgeting with my fingers as I looked down at the exquisitely marbled floor, "A bit nervous though.'
"Hey." He grabbed my hands in his and they looked so small compared to his, "Look at me." I did as he bid, "You will do great love and they will love you, just keep calm and everything will go alright."
"Okay." I nodded letting out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding, "Let's do this. I He gave me a small smile before taking my hand,
"They are assembled in the ball room." He said before leading me towards two closed doors. My heart beat faster with each step we took, it raced hard as we got closer, I hope nothing goes wrong, I whispered to myself as the doors began to open revealing my greatest fear at the moment The doors opened fully and in an instant the murmurs from the teeming erowd stopped. He looked down at me giving me a reassuring gaze before taking my hand in the crook of his arm,
"Stay calm love." He whispered causing me to melt inside at the softness of his voice, "I got you. just keep your head high and do not let their looks remarks affect you, Helena's words resounded in my ears as we continued to walk into the ballroom. My chin was held high and I managed to compose myself as I saw Lycus did, the crowd parted as we went on, bowing at our sight, I could catch snide looks directed at me from the corner of my eyes but I tried not to let them get to me even when I so desperately wanted to run away. He led the way and we got to some stairs that led to a podium, we ascended it and the pack members began to gather around moving closer to hear what their king had to say. I could see Helena at the front, Kate was strapped in her arms as she held her lovingly.I smiled at my daughter as she gave me a small wave, Willow was next to them and so were other members including the Beta, laya who was surprisingly smiling at me. wait! What?! I stared at her not knowing how to react to the seemingly strange gesture coming from someone who wanted to kill me, my gaze shifted and I met eyes with her mother, if looks could kill I would have been dead on the spot. I looked at other faces, some seemed nice while others sent me death threats which made me gulp and hurdle closer to Aiden.
"Silence!" He growled, the sound vibrating through out the room with so much power I quaked a bit. Everyone fell silent and it looked like their breaths were stilled as they gazed upon their king and the unwanted woman beside him.
"I assume you all know why you all are gathered here today?" He said stepping away from me which made me frown a bit till he sent me a reassuring smile, "And to those of you who do not know yet, I intend to introduce a very special person today."
Murmurs came from the crowd which all vanished as he growled again, "I said silence! One more sound and heads shall roll!"
I looked at him wide eyed, he wasn't actually serious, was he?
"Members of the black moon pack." He cleared his throat, "I have been without a mate and luna for long." He said, "Finally the moon goddess answered my prayers and sent me My other half." He looked at me this time, a small smile creeping to his lips as he outstretched his hand and gestured for me to take it. I moved instanty placing my hand in his and turned to face the crowd again, "I present to you my mate, Gabby Evander." Silence was what was gotten, stone deaf silence, "She is the future luna of this pack and shall ru-"
"Never!"A strangled cry came from the crowd interrupting Aiden's speech, "I will never bow to an omega! I will never bow to her!"
"Who is that?" Aiden let go of my hand aggressively with anger erupting from him, "You dare to question my authority?" He asked as his eyes met the man whom had sereamed earlier on, "Seize him!"
The guards quickly went into the crowd swinging into action. They grabbed the man and dragged him onto the stage as the other members of the crowd watched intently as everything unfolded before their very eyes.
"Bring him here!" He barked at the guards as they dragged him towards where we were, "Make him kneel before her!" They forced him to his knees in front of me The man shiVered in fright as Aiden stood behind him gripping his neck tightly, "How dare you disrespect my mate?! Haven't learned a lesson from past examples?' past examples? What is going on? What does he mean by past examples?
"I-i am so-rry." He cried out looking up at n fear filled his eyes, "Please forgive me my luna." He pleaded with me and I only gave him a small nod before stepping back.
"You know what happens to people that defy me?"
"let go off his neck and stepped before him blocking me from seeing the man, "Step away Gabby.' He gritted with his hand caressing the hilt of his sword.
"What are you going to do?" I paled in fright,
"Please let him go." I pleaded and from the corner of my eye I could see Helena back away into the crowd shielding Kate's eyes from the scene.
"Aiden." I called again with tears running down my eyes this time. He didn't spare me a glance or answer me. He only gazed at the man furiously.
"Let this be another lesson to all!" He announced and almost immediately, in one swift move, his sword was unsheathed, the sound of a blade Swishing in the air minơled with a cry blood splattered, gasps ensued and a head rolled. It rolled towards me, wide dead eyes in fright meeting mine and I slapped my hand across my mouth to stop the cry that escapedit.
"She is my luna." Aiden continued like he didn't just behead someone, "She will rule by me." He collected a handkerchief which he used to clean the blade before sheathing it, "What ever order she gives is mine, whatever loyalty you owe me is hers, whatever respect you pay to me shall be paid to her as well. You shall hold her in higher regard than you hold me, protect her with your life from any harm and take her as your Queen!" He boomed but his words meant nothing at the moment as the guilt of someone being beheaded at my expense weighed on me, "And anyone who even breathes an air of disrespect around her will meeta worse fate, no matter who you are!"
I couldn't take the guilt anymore, I sobbed loudly as I ran away from the podium ignoring his cries of my name and the thudding of footsteps, I didn't even know where I was running towards I just wanted to be alone at the moment. I passed through a door that I guessed led outside the building and I found myself outside an area with a large swimming pool. I couldn't hear him Screaming my name anymore nor did I hear footsteps, maybe he finally got the memo that I wanted to be alone. I wiped away my tears as I tried to forget the image of my mate slaughtering someone before me all because he didn't buy the idea of me being luna, wasn't it a little too extreme? I am not worthy enough to be luna after all.
"You are over thinking GabbyHera groaned, He did that to pırotect us and show us that he alvays got our back no matter what and he wouldn't tolerate any disrespect!
"Beheading the man was a bit too over the top, I said to her as I gazed at the cool blue waters of the pool. The light from the fluorescent bulbs shown on it giving it an alluring and inviting aura, if only could swim, I'd take a dip right now.
"He is the Alpha King, what did you expect? That he give him 50 push ups as punishment? I rolled my eyes at her words and blocked her out. I wasn't fit to be luna if I caused the death of a park member, how would him killing them make me more acceptable? I took in a sigh and bent to remove my heels before running my hand through my locs.
"Well! well! well! If it isn't the murderer!" I turned around at the voice only to see the Beta's mother taking slow steps towards me with a grin on her face, "How do you feel having another member die because of you?!"
"Another member?" I asked stunned as she neared me, "What do you mean another member?" I asked again trying my best to give her a fierce look.
"Oh cut the act, you devil! His royal highness has killed a number of people who happened to disrespect you or that bastard of yours, don't you think it's high tỉme you leave?"
"I do not know what you are talking about." I shrugged at her. In truth I didn't, I only knew of one death, what are the others she is talking off?
"And I am not leaving!"
"You will never be luna.'
"Don't you have something new to say?" I clapped back at her.
"Go girl! Hera howled.
"I am tired of this 'you will never be luna' statement of yours! Leave me be!" I growled angrily as she stood close to me, very close.
"I think it's high time I taught you a valuable lesson, I do hope you can swim." She smirked at me and before I could say jack She shoved me hard and i fell into the water while her sinister laugh rang in the air.